When Floodwater Increased The Ark Went Higher

Genesis 7:17-18
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.

God had commanded Noah to build the Ark. God had made it clear that a flood is coming that would destroy everything. The only salvation was to be in the Ark. The building of the Ark went hand in hand with preaching of the importance of being in the Ark when the flood comes. After the preaching and building of the Ark, God commanded Noah and His family to get into the Ark where God had already gathered wild and domestic animals in order to save them. Then the flood came and everything on earth died by drowning. But the Ark and those in it, were saved.

Our Bible text today tells us that as the flood kept coming and as the water kept rising, the Ark kept going higher and higher. This seems an obvious thing, but for the Bible to record it, there must be an inspired reason. When there is a flood, water causes problems. The more the water the more the problems for those in a flooded area. The more the water the greater the danger for anything and everything in a flooded area. The Bible wants us to know that as the water troubles and dangers increased, those in the Ark got safer and higher. When the water increased the Ark went higher!

As problems got worse, those in the Ark remained cushioned. As water increased the danger to life and property increased. As the danger increased the safety levels of those in the Ark went higher. The water was a destructive problem. The Ark was God’s safety solution. When water increased the Ark went higher!

Romans 5:20
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

As sin increased, grace increased to counter the power and effects of sin. As troubles increased, God made Apostle Paul stronger to counter the problems he was facing. When floodwaters increase, God raises the Ark we are in to go higher. God will counter every challenge we face every day, on condition that we stay in the Ark. When the waters increased the Ark went higher!

What could be increasing in your life? What pain is increasing? What loss is increasing? What is getting out of hand? What is increasing negatively? Stay in the Ark. When floodwater increased the Ark went higher!

The floodwaters destroyed and sank everything. Whatever was destroyed or killed would sink to the bottom of the floodwaters. Only the Ark and those in it stayed above the troubled waters of the flood. Whoever was outside the Ark went down dead and destroyed. Whoever was in the Ark went up safe and saved. When floodwaters come will you go down dead and destroyed or up safe and saved? The answer strictly depends on whether you will be inside the Ark or outside. When the water increased the Ark went higher!

Around us, businesses are sinking never to rise again. Around us, sources of income are sinking. Around us, careers are sinking never to rise again. Around us, people are sinking in loneliness and singlehood. Around us, marriages are sinking. Around us, reputation and morality are sinking. Around us, all the good things we valued and cared about are sinking. Only the people and things in the Ark went higher as the flood got worse and sank everything. In times of a flood, any flood, be in the Ark. When the water increased and all else succumbed and sank, the Ark went higher. When water increased the Ark went higher!

Floodwaters of bad economic times. Floodwaters of losses. Floodwaters of regret and disappointment. Floodwaters of failure. Floodwaters of backsliding in faith. Floodwaters of bad health. Floodwaters of Covid-19 infections. Floodwaters of rejection. Whatever the floodwaters are, they come to destroy and sink everything. The floodwaters are powerful and only the Ark can survive. As various floods abound and cause destruction, may we be safe in the Ark. When the floodwaters increased the Ark went higher!

The Ark is the true church, stay in under all circumstances. The Ark is our faith in God, hold on under all circumstances. The Ark is our healthy relationship with God, hang in there under all circumstances. Stay in the Ark even though it has dangerous wild animals. Stay in the Ark though it is stinking. Stay in the Ark even though it has lots of limitations. Stay in the Ark though it doesn’t have your favorite food, drink, dress, music, movies, etc. Only the Ark survives the flood. When the waters increased the Ark went higher!

Each one of us may easily find themselves in a flooded situation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 God will make a way of escape. God will provide an Ark that will rise above your present flood. Is your education flooded and at the risk of sinking? Whatever else is flooded and at the risk of sinking, God has provided an Ark, stay in the Ark. When the waters increased the Ark went higher!

Finally friends, our text today tells us that the flood was for fourty days. The flood was not permanent. No situation is permanent. The floodwaters may increase but they will not increase forever. After fourty days, the flood will cease. After fourty days it will get better. During the flood stay in the Ark. During the flood have hope that it is not permanent. During the flood stay safe and keep hope alive, no flood is permanent. Stay in the Ark for now. As the floodwaters increase may your Ark go higher!

Dear God, we know you have provided an Ark and we thank You. Show us the Ark. Enable us to enter the Ark. Give us faith to stay in the dangerous, stinking, limited but safe Ark. May our experience and testimony be that, as the floodwaters around us increased, the Ark we were in by God’s grace, went higher! In Jesus’ name, Amen!